Palestinians in Gaza are waiting for a full reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt after Israel partially resumed operations this week, nearly two years after taking control of the vital border point during the war with Hamas.
The crossing reopened on a limited, tightly controlled pilot basis following months of pressure from humanitarian organizations calling for medical evacuations and freer civilian movement. Israeli state broadcaster Kan reported that around 150 people were expected to leave Gaza for Egypt, including approximately 50 patients in urgent need of treatment. Another 50 individuals were expected to enter Gaza. According to the report, the crossing would operate for about six hours a day.
Images from the Egyptian side showed ambulances lined up and ready to receive patients, signaling that medical evacuations would be the first priority. Gaza’s health ministry said roughly 200 patients were still awaiting permission to leave, many suffering from conditions that cannot be treated inside the territory due to the collapse of the health system.
For residents, Rafah represents far more than a border point. “The Rafah crossing is a lifeline,” said Mohammed Nassir, a Palestinian who lost his leg after being injured early in the war. He explained that he needs surgery unavailable in Gaza but possible abroad.
Rafah is also a critical gateway for humanitarian aid into Gaza, where living conditions remain severe despite a ceasefire in place since October 10. The crossing has largely remained closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces seized control, with only a brief and limited reopening earlier in 2025.
Israel’s defense ministry body coordinating Palestinian civilian affairs stated that the movement of individuals in both directions was expected to begin, but did not announce any large-scale increase in aid deliveries. On the Egyptian side, state-linked Cairo News reported that the crossing would remain open around the clock and that hospitals were prepared to receive patients from Gaza.
Regional leaders have continued to reject any plans that would force Palestinians to leave Gaza. Egypt and Jordan reiterated their opposition to displacement as discussions around border access continued.
Israel had previously linked the reopening of Rafah to the recovery of the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, which were returned and buried last week. Following this, Israel announced the phased reopening.
Violence continued in the lead-up to the reopening, with Gaza’s civil defense reporting dozens of deaths from Israeli strikes. The Israeli military said the attacks were in response to militants emerging from a tunnel in Rafah.
Rafah remains the only crossing in and out of Gaza that does not pass through Israel. Although Israeli forces have pulled back under the terms of a US-brokered ceasefire, they still control more than half of the territory, while the remainder is under Hamas authority.
